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San Francisco, CA - OTA - Page 51

post #1501 of 9309
11/29/05 at 1:40am
Quote:
Originally Posted by plumeria View Post

ps. everyone should bookmark this excellent reference site
http://www.choisser.com/sfonair.html

Thanks for the compliments and the plug on our channel listing, Peter!

Larry
SF
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post #1502 of 9309
11/29/05 at 8:01am
Quote:
Originally Posted by davetroup View Post

I have an HD DirecTiVo OTA question. The HD TiVo box has two tuners, both of which are "fed" from the same OTA antenna (there's only one antenna connection on the unit.) But when I do the signal strength test, some of the digital channels have good signal strength on both tuners, while others have good signal strength on Tuner 1 but poor signal strength on Tuner 2. How can this be, when it's the same antenna, cable, etc.?

I have had problems with digital artifacts and signal loss when recording from some OTA channels, and I now think the problem is occuring on those channels which seem to have poor signal strength on Tuner 2. If the first tuner is recording something different and the second tuner gets used for the OTA program on one of those channels, it basically is unwatchable.

Any thoughts? Did I make enough sense for anyone to understand what I'm asking?

Dave--

Sounds to me as though you have a bum unit with only one good tuner. I'd return it for one with two properly functioning tuners.
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post #1503 of 9309
11/29/05 at 10:46am
Did anyone else have problems with KTVU-DT last night (Monday)? All other stations were fine for me, but KTVU-DT was bouncing between five bars and no bars on both of my MyHD receivers around 9-10PM (Prison Break) for me.
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post #1504 of 9309
11/29/05 at 5:52pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gregg2 View Post

Did anyone else have problems with KTVU-DT last night (Monday)? All other stations were fine for me, but KTVU-DT was bouncing between five bars and no bars on both of my MyHD receivers around 9-10PM (Prison Break) for me.

I sure hope not. I haven't watched it yet(tivo'd). I will let you know.
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post #1505 of 9309
11/30/05 at 1:33am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gregg2 View Post

Did anyone else have problems with KTVU-DT last night (Monday)? All other stations were fine for me, but KTVU-DT was bouncing between five bars and no bars on both of my MyHD receivers around 9-10PM (Prison Break) for me.

I did have the occasional stutter when watching my recording (eyeTV on my Mac with a Silver Sensor). I'm getting a strong signal, but, that was later at night so might have been the rain clouds at that time?
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post #1506 of 9309
11/30/05 at 7:38am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gregg2 View Post

Did anyone else have problems with KTVU-DT last night (Monday)? All other stations were fine for me, but KTVU-DT was bouncing between five bars and no bars on both of my MyHD receivers around 9-10PM (Prison Break) for me.

Prison Break was fine for me. Was bad for about 5 seconds, but was fine after that.
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post #1507 of 9309
11/30/05 at 11:14am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hoffa View Post

Prison Break was fine for me. Was bad for about 5 seconds, but was fine after that.

Was good for me too. In fact, most of the other HD channels (5.1, 7.1, 11.1) were cutting out. 11.1 went completely dark in the middle of Surface.
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post #1508 of 9309
12/1/05 at 8:07pm
Anybody in the South Bay having trouble picking up KGO tonight? Weird thing is that I have a strong signal (88%) on both 7-1 and 7-2, but absolutely no signal lock. All other Sutro channels coming in fine (also at about 88%).

expo
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post #1509 of 9309
12/1/05 at 8:39pm
yeah somethings going on with kgo. kqed also for me. on my tv i can't lock on to anything, and on my pc tuner they crash the app.
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post #1510 of 9309
12/2/05 at 9:00am
Hmmm... I thought my KGO problems could be related to the storm yesterday. But I'm still having the same problem today... strong signal (88%), but no signal lock on the tuner. My KQED is still coming in okay as are all the other channels.

So no one else in the south bay is having this problem. FWIW, I live in the Cambrian area of San Jose. Just trying to segment out whether I have a reception problem or whether KGO is having some kind of broadcast issue...

Everything was just peachy on Wednesday!

Thanks,

expo
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post #1511 of 9309
12/2/05 at 12:22pm
Hi All,

I'm not getting KRON4 since last 2-3 days I think. Kron4-2 is my demo HDTV channel. Is it out or my antenna somehow got misaligned after wind/rain.

Thanks

Mudit

edit: did it move to another channel ? 38.1 and 38.2 ?
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post #1512 of 9309
12/2/05 at 12:58pm
expo--

KGO (and KQED) was doing something odd yesterday (both OTA and via cable) that caused one of my PC tuner cards to crash. But they both seem back to normal today.

John--

I think you need to check your antenna, as 4.2 appears the same as always today here.
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post #1513 of 9309
12/2/05 at 1:00pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by IndigoBlu View Post

yeah somethings going on with kgo. kqed also for me. on my tv i can't lock on to anything, and on my pc tuner they crash the app.

KQED was fine for me last night. I watched the Cream broadcast on 9-2 with no problems. KGO was fine as well whenever I tuned over to it.
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post #1514 of 9309
12/2/05 at 1:03pm
Otto--

They were fine for me too on all but the one tuner type. The problem was fairly subtle and most tuners probably weren't sensitive to it.
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post #1515 of 9309
12/2/05 at 2:02pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by TPeterson View Post

Otto--

They were fine for me too on all but the one tuner type. The problem was fairly subtle and most tuners probably weren't sensitive to it.

Glad to hear that. I guess I've been really lucky with my LG-4200A because I've never had any tuner-related issues in the year-and-a-half that I've had it. BTW, I meant 9-1 for the KQED broadcast not 9-2.
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post #1516 of 9309
12/2/05 at 3:29pm
TPeterson

Thanks... at lunch, I checked the TV again. Well, still nothing on 7-1 or 7-2, but the signal strength indicator was still at 88%. So I decided to run an autoscan and following that, 7-1 and 7-2 were back up and running.

I guess whatever they were doing tricked my TV tuner somehow. slightly OT, its annoying that my TV doesn't have a manual tune feature. In order to add channels you have to autoscan. Then you can delete the stations you don't want. Very annoying...

expo
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post #1517 of 9309
12/2/05 at 4:22pm
Finally got a response from KTVU,

"Dear Mr. Hoff,
KTVU does not grant HD waivers to viewers in our market area which covers 11 counties from Mendocino to Santa Clara. We have received emails that DirecTV has the gear necessary to view local HD and that viewers are quite satisfied with the quality of local HD signals.

Sincerely,
Patricia A. Macholl
KTVU Research Director"

Yah, show me a DTV viewer that is "quite satisfied" wtih HD. I am going to keep trying. Maybe if I bug her enough.
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post #1518 of 9309
12/2/05 at 4:43pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hoffa View Post

Yah, show me a DTV viewer that is "quite satisfied" wtih HD.

You'd probably find one who uses an MPEG-4 sat system. As far as I know, D* HD locals (over the satellite) are now live in this area, at least for the 4 big networks.
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post #1519 of 9309
12/2/05 at 4:44pm
So what's the deal with DTV and local HD reception now? I read that they had successfully launched the satellite necessary for San Francisco Bay Area subscribers to get local channels in HD. How do we do that?

I also have been unsuccessful in getting any HD waivers. I also kind of lost interest when I learned that DirecTV would charge an extra $3 per month per waiver if you succeeded in getting any.
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post #1520 of 9309
12/2/05 at 4:53pm
You never did need any waivers, except for KTVU, or if one of the overlapping stations claimed you (like KSBW in my case). There are/were blanket waivers in place for KGO, KPIX and KNTV. They're not supposed to charge you the $3 for just the HD, if they do (like they did me) its a mistake which can be recified. The HD (out of area, from LA) networks come with the local channels.

Now the new satellite is up, they're advertising real (local, not LA) HD locals for the 4 networks here, but that's a subject for a different thread. You need a new antenna, new receiver, and there's no DVR available to record them. So all in all, just useless. (And I get reasonable reception over the air anyway.)
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post #1521 of 9309
12/2/05 at 5:26pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by btwyx View Post

You never did need any waivers, except for KTVU, or if one of the overlapping stations claimed you (like KSBW in my case). There are/were blanket waivers in place for KGO, KPIX and KNTV. They're not supposed to charge you the $3 for just the HD, if they do (like they did me) its a mistake which can be recified. The HD (out of area, from LA) networks come with the local channels.

Now the new satellite is up, they're advertising real (local, not LA) HD locals for the 4 networks here, but that's a subject for a different thread. You need a new antenna, new receiver, and there's no DVR available to record them. So all in all, just useless. (And I get reasonable reception over the air anyway.)

Thanks! Finally armed with better information, I called DirecTV again. They didn't know anything about blanket waivers, but the previous waiver request I'd submitted for ABC (KGO) had been approved (they just hadn't bothered to tell me or activate it) and for NBC (KNTV) was DENIED (why? dunno, guess I will try calling them directly) and the one for KPIX got lost or something, so they will resubmit. The rep I spoke to today seemed more on the ball, and confirmed that there was no extra charge (contrary to what the last rep told me.)

So, at least now I have ABC in HD, and hopefully at least CBS will come through too. I asked her to request KTVU as well, even though I don't expect them to approve it, figured it can't hurt to ask.
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post #1522 of 9309
12/2/05 at 5:45pm
You don't need waivers from KGO, KNTV or KPIX, there are agreements in place (sometimes referred to as "blanket waivers") to allow you to watch the LA feeds, you get them with locals or the HD package.

<<a href="http://www.directv.com/see/landing/abc_hd.html" target="_blank">http://www.directv.com/see/landing/abc_hd.html>
<<a href="http://www.directv.com/see/landing/nbc_hd.html" target="_blank">http://www.directv.com/see/landing/nbc_hd.html>
<<a href="http://www.directv.com/see/landing/cbs_hd.html" target="_blank">http://www.directv.com/see/landing/cbs_hd.html>

Unfortunatly CSRs are clueless, pointing them towards their own web pages sometimes works. I also got a waiver (which was not needed) denied by KNTV, I still get NBC HD on the sat (LA feed), as well as CBS and ABC. Everyone in the bay area should, if one of the stations further out (Salinas, Sacramento) isn't being a total pain and claims you as well.

I'm not sure how the new HD LIL (local in local) service is going to affect this, but last I heard they were still giving them out. (If you can find a CSR who's head in not buried in a dark place.)
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post #1523 of 9309
12/2/05 at 10:53pm
The only reason I am trying to get that last waiver is because they do not have the DVR yet. I have KTVUDT with a off-air antenna, but It would be easier if I could get the LA feed. O'well I guess I should be happy with what I have.
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post #1524 of 9309
12/2/05 at 11:05pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hoffa View Post

The only reason I am trying to get that last waiver is because they do not have the DVR yet. I have KTVUDT with a off-air antenna,

??? Where have you been for the past 18 months? D* does have an HD DVR which records OTA. I've been seeing the 9ers lose, recorded in glorious HD for the last 2 seasons.
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post #1525 of 9309
12/3/05 at 1:10am
Quote:
Originally Posted by btwyx View Post

You'd probably find one who uses an MPEG-4 sat system. As far as I know, D* HD locals (over the satellite) are now live in this area, at least for the 4 big networks.

True, as of 11/22, KPIX, KGO, KTVU and KNTV are all available in HD from DirecTV. To receive them though you have to get a new MPEG4 capable STB(they're free after a $99 rebate).

The MPEG4 HD-DVR is supposed to be available 1/Q '06.
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post #1526 of 9309
12/3/05 at 10:30am
So I've never tried anything like this but I'm willing to organize a petition to KTVU to get them to approve waivers. I've created one at **************-dot-com, search for "KTVUHDDT"

(Sorry, I haven't posted enough to include a link, perhaps somebody who can post a link would be so kind).

I'll leave it running for a while to gather signatures and then will contact KTVU to deliver it to them. This is rediculous, let's see if we can get them to change!
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post #1527 of 9309
12/3/05 at 11:11am
Quote:
Originally Posted by lrz View Post

I'm only guessing but waiver requirements are probably based on mileage without regard to geography or adjacent channels. Since the coast range is between you and KCRA there's not much ch 3 available in Cupertino and the adjacent closer chnls 2 and 4 make it doubly hard to get decent ch 3. In your case I would think a waiver from 3 Sacramento should be easily obtained.

I finally did get a waiver from KCRA, although I got absolutely zero feedback from the station until a letter just showed up in my mailbox. I faxed it into D* and will see what happens.

The guys that I talked to at KNTV in San Jose have been incredibly helpful in this whole process. When I couldn't find anybody to talk to at KCRA they did some research and came up with the right people to ping.
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post #1528 of 9309
12/3/05 at 11:37am
Quote:
Originally Posted by pmarcos View Post

So I've never tried anything like this but I'm willing to organize a petition to KTVU to get them to approve waivers. I've created one at **************-dot-com, search for "KTVUHDDT"

(Sorry, I haven't posted enough to include a link, perhaps somebody who can post a link would be so kind).

I'll leave it running for a while to gather signatures and then will contact KTVU to deliver it to them. This is rediculous, let's see if we can get them to change!

I doubt you will get a waiver from any of the 4 major nets in the SF bay area at this stage of the game with DirecTV providing the local 4 nets in HD as a 11/22. KPIX, KGO and KNTV, all being network owned stations, all have blanket waivers in effect from the network. The one independent, KTVU, is highly unlikely to issue a waiver with their local HD signal already on DirecTV.

With all due respect for your initiative in trying to put something together, I honestly think you will be wasting your time trying to get a waiver from KTVU.
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post #1529 of 9309
12/3/05 at 2:49pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by btwyx View Post

??? Where have you been for the past 18 months? D* does have an HD DVR which records OTA. I've been seeing the 9ers lose, recorded in glorious HD for the last 2 seasons.

I meant the MPEG-4 HD DVR. I have the 250. Its great I love it.
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post #1530 of 9309
12/5/05 at 7:50am
This may be an old subject, so I apologize if it's been discussed before. Does KPIX (5.1) generally have low signal strength compared to the other transmitters coming from Sutro?

I've been adjusting my OTA antenna over the weekend and I'm pretty sure it's aimed right at Sutro. I live in the South bay area (Campbell) and all other stations I care about (2.1, 7.1, 9.1, 11.1, 20.1, 44.1) come in fairly strong, usually in the high 70s and low 80s. KPIX however, is always in the low 50s and has a lot of signal dropouts and pixilation. Is this normal for them? Would an amplifier help? TIA.
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